Meta Platforms (META) vs Altria Group (MO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Altria Group (MO) has outperformed Meta Platforms (META) over the past year, gaining 4.1% versus a gain of 1.2%. Over five years, META leads with a +122.1% price change compared with +42.5% for MO. Meta Platforms is the larger company by market cap ($1.84 trillion vs $119.25 billion), about 15.4 times the size.
On valuation, Altria Group trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 20.9x for Meta Platforms). Altria Group offers the higher dividend yield (5.94% vs 0.29%). Meta Platforms converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 30.1% versus 29.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | META | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $720.89 | $71.42 |
| Market cap | $1.84T | $119.25B |
| 1-day change | -0.06% | +2.94% |
| YTD return | +9.27% | +20.33% |
| 1-year return | +1.15% | +4.10% |
| 5-year return | +122.11% | +42.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.16 | 15.04 |
| Forward P/E | 20.87 | 12.18 |
| EPS (TTM) | $26.54 | $4.75 |
| Dividend yield | 0.29% | 5.94% |
| Annual dividend | $2.10 | $4.24 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $200.97B | $23.28B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +22.17% | -3.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $60.46B | $6.95B |
| Gross margin | 82.00% | 62.47% |
| Operating margin | 41.44% | 42.52% |
| Net margin | 30.08% | 29.84% |
| 52-week high | $779.82 | $77.06 |
| 52-week low | $520.26 | $54.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.56% | -7.32% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.27% | -1.99% |
| Average volume | 19.23M | 8.48M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.21B | 1.67B |
| Employees | 75,472 | 5,900 |
| Sector | Technology | Health Care |
| Industry | Computer Software: Programming Data Processing | Medicinal Chemicals and Botanical Products |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Meta Platforms is about 15.4 times larger than Altria Group by market value ($1.84T vs $119.25B).
- Meta Platforms trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.2x vs 15.0x trailing P/E).
- Altria Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.94% vs 0.29%).
- Meta Platforms grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+22.17% vs -3.08%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Meta Platforms in Technology and Altria Group in Health Care.
About Meta Platforms
META stock →Meta Platforms, Inc. engages in the development of products that enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and AI glasses in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally.
Technology · Computer Software: Programming Data Processing · 75,472 employees
About Altria Group
MO stock →Altria Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. It offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and oral tobacco products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.
Health Care · Medicinal Chemicals and Botanical Products · 5,900 employees
META vs MO FAQ
Which is bigger, Meta Platforms or Altria Group?
Meta Platforms (META) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.84T compared with $119.25B for Altria Group (MO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, META or MO?
MO returned +4.10% over the past 12 months, compared with +1.15% for META (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, META or MO?
MO has the lower trailing P/E at 15.0, versus 27.2 for META. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Meta Platforms or Altria Group?
Altria Group has the higher yield at 5.94%, compared with 0.29% for Meta Platforms.
Are Meta Platforms and Altria Group in the same industry?
No. Meta Platforms is in the Technology sector, while Altria Group is in Health Care.